U.S. patent number 10,401,812 [Application Number 13/777,661] was granted by the patent office on 2019-09-03 for methods for controlling and parameterizing a home automation installation and home automation installation implementing said methods.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SOMFY SAS. The grantee listed for this patent is Somfy SAS. Invention is credited to Pierre-Yves Cogne, Frederic Devis, Isabelle Duchene, Alexandre Espinasse.
![](/patent/grant/10401812/US10401812-20190903-D00000.png)
![](/patent/grant/10401812/US10401812-20190903-D00001.png)
![](/patent/grant/10401812/US10401812-20190903-D00002.png)
![](/patent/grant/10401812/US10401812-20190903-D00003.png)
![](/patent/grant/10401812/US10401812-20190903-D00004.png)
United States Patent |
10,401,812 |
Duchene , et al. |
September 3, 2019 |
Methods for controlling and parameterizing a home automation
installation and home automation installation implementing said
methods
Abstract
A home automation installation includes several sensors, several
pieces of controlled home automation equipment, and a control unit
communicating with the sensors and the controlled home automation
equipment. To control this installation, it is provided to select a
control scenario by the control unit for at least one parameterized
sensor from among the sensors, at a current moment belonging to a
periodic time range from among one or more time ranges associated
with the parameterized sensor, and as a function of at least one
current value of the signal coming from the parameterized sensor,
then to send, by the control unit to at least one of the pieces of
controlled home automation equipment, at least one order depending
on the selected control scenario. To parameterize the control unit,
a procedure is provided consisting of choosing a sensor to be
parameterized from among at least one periodic activation time
range and/or at least one periodic inhibition time range and
associating at least one control scenario with at least one state
or a change of state of the signal from the sensor to be
parameterized.
Inventors: |
Duchene; Isabelle (Marignier,
FR), Devis; Frederic (Epagny, FR), Cogne;
Pierre-Yves (Bogeve, FR), Espinasse; Alexandre
(Marignier, FR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Somfy SAS |
Cluses |
N/A |
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SOMFY SAS (Cluses,
FR)
|
Family
ID: |
47722184 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/777,661 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20130226316 A1 |
Aug 29, 2013 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 27, 2012 [FR] |
|
|
12 51761 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
3/0486 (20130101); G05B 15/02 (20130101); G05B
19/0426 (20130101); G05B 19/02 (20130101); G06F
3/0488 (20130101); G05B 2219/23258 (20130101); G05B
2219/2642 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G05B
15/02 (20060101); G05B 19/02 (20060101); G05B
19/042 (20060101); G06F 3/0488 (20130101); G06F
3/0486 (20130101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3335226 |
|
Apr 1985 |
|
DE |
|
10 2006 020121 |
|
Nov 2007 |
|
DE |
|
2 000 867 |
|
Dec 2008 |
|
EP |
|
2 586 833 |
|
Mar 1987 |
|
FR |
|
WO 2007/124786 |
|
Nov 2007 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Extended Search Report issued by European Patent Office for
corresponding application EP13156380.1 dated Sep. 19, 2013. cited
by applicant .
Vaillant: "Betriebsanleitung VRC-CB", Feb. 28, 1987, version 3, pp.
1-16, dated Feb. 28, 1987. cited by applicant .
Search Report issued by French Patent Office for priority
application 12 51761 dated Oct. 29, 2012. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Dunn; Darrin D
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Haug Partners LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for controlling a home automation installation
including several sensors, several pieces of controlled home
automation equipment, a control unit communicating with the sensors
and the pieces of controlled home automation equipment and a
programming interface connected to the control unit, wherein the
method includes: a parameterization procedure, comprising the
following steps: selecting with the programming interface at least
one parameterized sensor from among the sensors; associating a
periodic time range, from among one or more time ranges, with the
parameterized sensor, wherein said periodic time range is defined
by one or more of: at least one time range during a day, at least
one day of the week or of the month, and at least one month of the
year; associating at least one least one state or change of state
of a signal from the parameterized sensor with at least one control
scenario; and storing the at least one control scenario in the
control unit, wherein the at least one control scenario is selected
according to the periodic time range associated with the
parameterized sensor and according to the at least one state or
change of state of a signal from the corresponding parameterized
sensor; and a control procedure, following the parameterization
procedure, comprising the following steps: receiving, with the
control unit, at least one current value of a signal coming from
the parameterized sensor; responding by sending with the control
unit, to at least one of the pieces of controlled home automation
equipment, at least one order depending on the at least one control
scenario as stored in the control unit during the parameterization
procedure; and controlling the at least one of the pieces of
controlled home automation equipment according to the at least one
order.
2. The method of claim 1, further including a step of previously
storing the one or more periodic time ranges associated with the
parameterized sensor.
3. The method of claim 1, further including a step of storing, for
the parameterized sensor, at least one control scenario associated
with a state or change of state of the signal coming from the
parameterized sensor.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the state or the change of state
is one of the following: a value range delimited by at least one
threshold value associated with the parameterized sensor, or a
passage from a first value range delimited by a threshold value
associated with the parameterized sensor to a second value range
delimited by the threshold value, or a state value of the
parameterized sensor.
5. The method of claim 4, further including a step of storing the
one or more threshold values associated with the parameterized
sensor.
6. The method of claim 1, further including a prioritization
procedure including: associating at least one state or change of
state with at least one priority sensor among the sensors with a
high priority level and with a high-priority control scenario,
whenever the state or change of state associated with a high
priority level occurs, and sending with the control unit, to at
least one of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment, at
least one order depending on the high-priority control scenario
inhibiting the selection of at least one other control
scenario.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the order sent to the at least
one of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment includes
a code identifying the selected control scenario, and wherein
controlling the at least one of the pieces of controlled home
automation equipment comprises carrying out the order with the at
least one of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment as
a function of the selected control scenario code, the order being
programmed into the at least one of the pieces of controlled home
automation equipment.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating at least
one control scenario includes at least one of the following steps:
selecting at least one threshold value of the signal coming from
the sensor to be parameterized and selecting at least one first
control scenario assigned to a value interval bounded by the
threshold value; selecting at least one threshold value of the
signal coming from the sensor to be parameterized and selecting at
least one first control scenario assigned to a passage of the
signal from the sensor to be parameterized from a first value range
delimited by the threshold value to a second value range delimited
by the threshold value; and selecting at least one state value of
the signal coming from the sensor to be parameterized and selecting
at least one first control scenario assigned to the state
value.
9. The method of claims 1, further including: selecting one program
from among several possible programs, wherein the steps of
selecting a sensor to be parameterized among the sensors further
includes: associating the sensor to be parameterized with the at
least one periodic activation time range or at least one periodic
inhibition time range, associating the at least one control
scenario with at least one state or change of state of the signal
from the sensor to be parameterized, and allocating the at least
one control scenario to the selected program.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selecting
the at least one parameterized sensor also includes a preliminary
step of choosing a type of sensor from among several types of
sensors followed by a step of choosing a sensor of the chosen type
from among several sensors of the chosen type.
11. The method of claim 1, further including at least one step of
associating at least one control scenario with at least one order
to be sent to at least one of the pieces of controlled home
automation equipment.
12. A method for parameterizing a home automation installation
including several sensors, several pieces of controlled home
automation equipment, a control unit communicating with the sensors
and the pieces of controlled home automation equipment, and a
programming interface connected to the control unit, the method
including a parameterization procedure, comprising the following
steps: choosing a sensor, with the programming interface, to be
parameterized from among the sensors; associating at least one
periodic activation time range and/or at least one periodic
inhibition time range with the sensor to be parameterized, wherein
said periodic activation and/or deactivation time range is defined
by one or more of: at least one time range during a day, at least
one day of the week or of the month, and at least one month of the
year; associating at least one state or change of state of a signal
from the sensor to be parameterized with at least one control
scenario; and storing the at least one control scenario in the
control unit; wherein the at least one control scenario is selected
according to the at least one periodic activation time range and/or
at least one periodic inhibition time range associated with the
sensor to be parameterized and according to at least one state or
change of state of a signal from corresponding the parameterized
sensor, and wherein the at least one control scenario stored in the
control unit includes at least one order configured to be sent to
at least one of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment,
the at least one order controlling the at least one of the pieces
of controlled home automation equipment.
13. A control unit for communicating with several sensors and
several pieces of controlled home automation equipment of a home
automation installation, wherein the control unit includes: first
communication means for receiving signals from the sensors; storage
means comprising a memory for storing one or more control
scenarios, wherein each of the control scenarios is previously
created by a programming interface connected to the control unit,
and wherein each of the control scenarios is selected according to
at least one periodic time range associated with at least one
parameterized sensor from among the sensors, and according to at
least one state or change of state of a signal from the
corresponding parameterized sensor, during a parameterization
procedure; processing means for selecting at least one current
control scenario from among the one or more stored control
scenarios that has been previously created by a programming
interface connected to the control unit and stored in the control
unit, when a current value from the parameterized sensor associated
with the current control scenario is received by the control unit
and when the current value corresponds to the associated periodic
time range; and second communication means for sending the piece of
controlled home automation equipment at least one order depending
on the current control scenario, the order configured to control
the piece of controlled home automation equipment.
14. A control assembly including: a programming interface connected
to a control unit, wherein the programming interface includes: a
graphic display displaying: at least one screen to choose a sensor
to be parameterized from among the sensors; at least one screen for
associating the sensor to be parameterized with at least one
periodic activation time range and/or at least one periodic
inhibition time range; and at least one screen for associating at
least one control scenario with at least one state or change of
state of the signal from the sensor to be parameterized; wherein
the programming interface is configured, during a parametrization
procedure, to associated the sensor with the at least one at least
one periodic activation time range and/or at least one periodic
inhibition time range and associate the at least one control
scenario with at least one state or change of state of the signal
from the sensor; and a control unit for communicating with several
sensors and several pieces of controlled home automation equipment
of a home automation installation, wherein the control unit
includes: communication means for receiving signals from the
sensors; storage means comprising a memory for storing the one or
more control scenarios that were created during the
parameterization procedure, means for selecting at least one
current control scenario from among the one or more stored control
scenarios that has been previously created by means of the
programming interface connected to the control unit and stored in
the control unit, when a current value from the parameterized
sensor associated with the current control scenario occurs is
received by the control unit and when the current value corresponds
to the associated periodic time range; and means for sending the
piece of controlled home automation equipment at least one order
depending on the current control scenario, the order configured to
control the piece of controlled home automation equipment.
15. A home automation installation including several sensors,
several pieces of controlled home automation equipment, a control
unit communicating with the sensors and pieces of controlled home
automation equipment, and a programming interface connected to the
control unit, wherein the programming interface includes:
communication means for communicating with the control unit; and
means for creating at least one control scenario, wherein the means
for creating at least one control scenario is configured to: select
at least one parameterized sensor from among the sensors; associate
a periodic time range, from among one or more time ranges, with the
parameterized sensor, wherein said periodic time range is defined
by one or more of: at least one time range during a day, at least
one day of the week or of the month, and at least one month of the
year; and associate at least one least one state or change of state
of a signal from the parameterized sensor with the at least one
control scenario; wherein the at least one control scenario is
selected according to the periodic time range associated with the
parameterized sensor and according to the at least one state or
change of state of a signal from the corresponding parameterized
sensor; wherein the communication means is configured to transmit
the at least one control scenario to the control unit; wherein the
control unit includes: communication means for receiving signals
from the sensors; storage means comprising a memory for storing the
one or more control scenarios created and communicated by the
programming interface; processing means for: selecting at least one
current control scenario from among the one or more stored control
scenarios that has been previously created by means of a
programming interface connected to the control unit and stored in
the control unit, a current value from the parameterized sensor
associated with the current control scenario is received by the
control unit and when the current value corresponds to the
associated periodic time range; and sending to at least one of the
pieces of controlled home automation equipment, at least one order
depending on the selected control scenario as stored in the control
unit and created by the programming interface, wherein the order is
configured to control the at least one of the pieces of controlled
home automation equipment.
16. The home automation installation of claim 15, wherein the
programming interface includes a graphic display displaying: at
least one screen to choose a sensor to be parameterized from among
the sensors; at least one screen for associating the sensor to be
parameterized with at least one periodic activation time range
and/or at least one periodic inhibition time range; and at least
one screen for associating at least one control scenario with at
least one state or change of state of the signal from the sensor to
be parameterized.
17. The home automation installation of claim 15, wherein at least
one of the sensors make up units that are structurally distinct
from the control unit, and arranged in separate housings, not
integrated into a housing of the control unit and remote from the
housing of the control unit.
18. The home automation installation of claim 15, wherein at least
one of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment make up
units that are structurally distinct from the control unit and
arranged in distinct housings not integrated into a housing of the
control unit and remote from the housing of the control unit.
Description
This application claims priority benefits to French Patent
Application Number 1251761 filed Feb. 27, 2012, the entire
disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a home automation installation, i.e.,
broadly speaking, an installation including communicating pieces of
electrical equipment, which may or may not be motorized, in a
building, in particular a residential building. It also relates to
a controller for such an installation and means for facilitating
parameterization of such a controller.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Patent application WO2007/124786A1 describes a home automation
installation provided with sensors and controlled home automation
equipment. Each sensor may be associated with two control
scenarios, one when the measured level is below a threshold, and
the other when the measured value is above that threshold.
These control scenarios are directly programmed into the
electronics of the sensor. Thus, the sensor sends the actuator an
order that is the code associated with the control scenario
corresponding to the measurement of the present moment and the
actuator that receives that order is capable of interpreting it and
taking action.
This installation makes it possible to use control scenarios to
control the home automation installation, but is difficult to
parameterize: the installer must define, at each sensor, the
measurement threshold beyond which a different control scenario is
sent. This repeated manipulation requires considerable time and may
also impose particular measures to protect the installer working on
the installation, if the sensor is placed in an inaccessible
location (at a height against a wall, for example), which is
particularly detrimental if it must be manipulated several times.
Furthermore, the sensors used in this installation are specific,
inasmuch as they only send an order in the form of a control
scenario code, or are versatile in that they can send a value or a
code corresponding to the control scenario. In both cases, the cost
of such sensors is high. Likewise, the controlled home automation
equipment must integrate more significant means for processing the
information than the traditional actuators to be able to associate
a control scenario code with concrete actions.
Patent application EP2000867A1 describes how it is possible to
associate a control scenario with a measurement level of a sensor.
For example, a sensor and a roller shutter motor are placed in
programming mode; a threshold is selected at the sensor; the roller
shutter is placed in a given position by setting the motor in
motion; communication is established between the two in order to
associate that measurement level with the position of the
motor.
Here again, the matching phase may be delicate and require
particular protection measures for people working on the
installation, since the sensor may be in an area that is difficult
to access. Likewise, the installation procedure may be tedious, as
it is necessary to perform this operation for each sensor and each
actuator to be associated. The size of the installation is then
limited or very expensive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims to resolve the drawbacks of the state of the art
and to propose means capable of facilitating the control,
programming, and reprogramming of a home automation
installation.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method for controlling a home automation installation including
several sensors, several pieces of controlled home automation
equipment, and a control unit communicating with the sensors and
the pieces of controlled home automation equipment, including the
following steps: selecting with the control unit and for at least
one parameterized sensor from among the sensors, at a current
moment belonging to a periodic time range from among one or more
time ranges associated with the parameterized sensor, and as a
function of at least one current value of the signal coming from
the parameterized sensor, a control scenario sending, with the
control unit to at least one of the pieces of controlled home
automation equipment, at least one order depending on the selected
control scenario.
The method thus makes it possible to perform, from a single control
unit communicating with the sensors and the pieces of controlled
home automation equipment, a wide variety of control scenarios,
which may include one or more orders, sent to one or more pieces of
equipment, simultaneously or according to a predetermined
sequence.
According to one embodiment, the method includes a step of
previously storing the one or more periodic time ranges associated
with the parameterized sensor.
According to one embodiment, the method includes a step of storing,
for the parameterized sensor, at least one control scenario
associated with a state or change of state of the signal coming
from the parameterized sensor. The state or the change of state may
in particular be: a value range delimited by at least one threshold
value associated with the parameterized sensor, or a passage from a
first value range delimited by a threshold value associated with
the parameterized sensor to a second value range delimited by the
threshold value, or a state value of the parameterized sensor,
which proves particularly suitable for a sensor delivering a low
number of state values, for example a sensor delivering binary
information or information with no more than eight states on a
byte.
According to one embodiment, the method includes a step of
previously storing the one or more threshold values associated with
the parameterized sensor.
According to one embodiment, the order sent to the piece of
controlled home automation equipment is a code identifying the
selected control scenario, the method also including a step of
carrying out the order with the piece of home automation equipment
controlled as a function of the selected control scenario code,
programmed into the piece of controlled home automation equipment.
It is thus possible to lighten the tasks performed by the control
unit, and to move part of the complexity of the performance of the
orders to the onboard intelligence in the piece of controlled home
automation equipment. Alternatively, it is possible to provide that
the control scenario stored in the control unit includes, for a
given piece of home automation equipment, a series of orders, some
of which may depend on a return of information from the considered
piece home automation equipment.
According to one embodiment, the method also includes a prior step
of storing one or more control scenarios, each of the control
scenarios being associated with at least one predetermined periodic
time range and at least one value of at least one signal from among
the signals coming from the sensors.
According to one embodiment, a prioritization procedure is provided
including: associating at least one state or change of state with
at least one priority sensor among the sensors with a high priority
level and with a high-priority control scenario, whenever a state
or change of state associated with a high priority level occurs,
sending with the control unit to at least one of the pieces of
controlled home automation equipment at least one order depending
on the high-priority control scenario and inhibiting the selection
of at least one other control scenario.
It is thus possible to avoid contradictory orders being given to
the piece of controlled home automation equipment. If the priority
sensor is connected to a function related to the safety of people
or safety of the building, it is possible to provide that the
occurrence of the state or change of state associated with the high
priority level inhibits the selection of any scenario other than
the priority scenario. It is also possible to provide several
priority levels, the fire sensors for example having an absolute
priority, and intrusion sensors having an intermediate priority
level, greater than that of other sensors, for example sun
sensors.
Particularly advantageously, the method may also include a
programming or parameterization procedure, including at least the
following steps: choosing a sensor to be parameterized among the
sensors; associating at least one periodic activation time range
and/or at least one periodic inhibition time range with the sensor
to be parameterized; and associating at least one state or change
of state of the signal coming from the sensor to be parameterized
with at least one control scenario.
This parameterization procedure using successive and intuitive
steps makes it possible to have the installation carry out complex
orders, simultaneously depending on time ranges and the actual
state of the environment or the installation itself, as measured by
at least some of the sensors. The parameters chosen during the
parameterization are either stored completely in the control unit,
or stored partially in the control unit and partially transmitted
to the sensors themselves. The programming can preferably be done
using a programming interface, for example including a graphic
display and an input interface, which may for example be combined
in a touchscreen.
According to one embodiment, it is provided that the periodic
activation time range and/or the periodic inhibition time range can
be defined by at least one of the following elements or a
combination of the following elements: at least one time range, at
least one day of the week or month, at least one month of the
year.
The assignment step may include selecting at least one threshold
value of the signal coming from the sensor to be parameterized and
selecting at least one first control scenario assigned to a value
interval bounded by the threshold value. For a sensor delivering a
signal that varies in a given range, it is thus possible to
determine a number N of threshold values, if applicable making it
possible to define up to N+1 intervals, and to assign control
scenarios to one or more of those intervals.
Alternatively, the procedure may include selecting at least one
threshold value of the signal coming from the sensor to be
parameterized and selecting at least one first control scenario
assigned to a passage of the signal from the sensor to be
parameterized past the threshold value in a predetermined
direction.
Alternatively, the procedure may include selecting at least one
state value of the signal coming from the sensor to be
parameterized and selecting at least one first control scenario
assigned to the state value. This procedure will be particularly
suitable for sensors delivering binary signals of the open/closed,
temperature threshold or sunshine exceeded or not exceeded, etc.
type.
According to one embodiment, the method includes a step of
selecting one program from among several possible programs, the
steps of selecting a sensor to be parameterized among the sensors,
associating the sensor to be parameterized with at least one
periodic activation time range and/or at least one periodic
inhibition time range, and associating at least one control
scenario with at least one state or change of state of the signal
from the sensor to be parameterized being allocated to the selected
program.
It is thus possible to provide several programs, each for example
associated with different recurring time ranges for a given sensor,
for example a program associated with time ranges valid certain
days of the week and a program associated with other time ranges
valid other days of the week, each program being associated with
specific control scenarios taking place as a function of the state
of the sensor in the specified time ranges.
The step of choosing the sensor may also include a preliminary step
of choosing a type of sensor from among several types of sensors,
followed by step of choosing a sensor of the chosen type from among
several sensors of the chosen type. It will thus be possible,
through successive steps, to select the desired sensor in a large
installation including many sensors of various types. One given
type of sensors will for example include temperature, sunshine, or
wind strength sensors, or sensors located in a given geographical
area of the building.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the method includes
at least one prior step of defining control scenarios. Each control
scenario may include one or more orders, given to one or more
pieces of controlled home automation equipment, simultaneously or
sequentially. Inasmuch as the definition of the control scenarios
may prove relatively complex, it may be preferable, according to
one embodiment, to reserve programming thereof for a qualified
operator, while the programming of the choice of sensors,
activation thresholds, and periodic time ranges may be more widely
accessible to the end user occupying the equipped building.
Alternatively, one may decide to open the programming of all or
some the control scenarios to the end user. According to one
embodiment, it is provided to associate an order to be transmitted
to at least one of the pieces of controlled home automation
equipment with at least one control scenario.
According to one embodiment, the method includes a step of sending
with the control unit to at least one of the sensors, a sleep
signal at the beginning of the periodic inhibition time range, and
a wake-up signal at the beginning of the periodic activation time
range.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method for parameterizing a home automation installation including
several sensors, several pieces of controlled home automation
equipment and a control unit communicating with the sensors and the
controlled home automation equipment, characterized in that it
includes the following steps carried out by means of a programming
interface connected to the control unit: choosing a sensor to be
parameterized from among the sensors; associating at least one
periodic activation time range and/or at least one periodic
inhibition time range with the sensor to be parameterized; and
associating at least one state or change of state of the signal
from the sensor to be parameterized with at least one control
scenario.
This parameterization method makes it possible to simply and
intuitively define an operation of the installation developed
taking the time ranges and values of signals into account to select
and carry out operating control scenarios. This programming method
may also include all or some of the characteristics of the
programming procedure described relative to the first aspect of the
invention.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
control unit and a home automation installation for implementing
the control method and/or the programming method according to the
previous aspect of the invention. A control unit here is a
functional unit, preferably made in the form of a structural unit,
inside a unitary housing.
More specifically, and according to another aspect of the
invention, the invention relates to a control unit for a home
automation installation including several sensors, several pieces
of controlled home automation equipment, the control unit
communicating with the sensors and the pieces of controlled home
automation equipment and including: means for receiving signals
from the sensors; means for storing one or more control scenarios,
each of the control scenarios being associated on the one hand with
at least one periodic time range associated with at least one
parameterized sensor from among the sensors, and on the other hand
with at least one state or change of state of a signal from the
parameterized sensor; means for selecting at least one current
control scenario from among the one or more stored control
scenarios, when the state or change of state of the parameterized
sensor associated with the current control scenario occurs at a
current moment in the associated periodic time range; and means for
sending the piece of controlled home automation equipment at least
one order depending on the current control scenario.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention relates
to a control assembly including the control unit previously
described and a programming interface connected to the control
unit, the interface having a graphic display displaying: at least
one screen to choose a sensor to be parameterized from among the
sensors; at least one screen for associating the sensor to be
parameterized with at least one periodic activation time range
and/or at least one periodic inhibition time range; and at least
one screen for associating at least one control scenario with at
least one state or change of state of the signal from the sensor to
be parameterized.
The control unit and the programming interface can be combined in a
single structural unit, with a shared housing, or may form two
distinct structural units, each with its own housing, communicating
by a wired or wireless connection.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention relates
to a home automation installation including several sensors,
several pieces of controlled home automation equipment, and a
control unit or an assembly as previously defined communicating
with the sensors and the pieces of controlled home automation
equipment. Preferably, at least one and preferably several of the
sensors make up units that are structurally distinct from the
control unit, therefore arranged in separate housings, not
integrated into the housing of the control unit and remote from the
housing of the control unit. Likewise, at least one and preferably
several of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment make
up units that are structurally distinct from the control unit,
therefore arranged in distinct housings, not integrated into the
housing of the control unit and remote from the housing of the
control unit.
According to another aspect of the invention, the invention is
generalized to a home automation installation only including one
piece of controlled home automation equipment or one sensor, and a
control method and a programming method for such an
installation.
The various aspects of the invention offer many advantages, and in
particular: multiple control scenarios to optimize the operation of
the home automation installation under all circumstances; great
flexibility of the installation, allowing a large number of
combinations around one control unit and, if applicable, a single
programming interface; the possibility of using the sensors for
purposes other than those for which they were initially intended
(for example, a temperature sensor outside a boiler that will also
be used to determine whether it is summer or winter and to cause
different management of the roller shutters); the possibility,
owing to the control unit, of making products and sensors
compatible that previously were not, and in particular the
possibility of combining sensors and pieces of controlled home
automation equipment with different protocols; and implementing
much higher performing automation than a simple system integrating
actions according to the time range without accounting for actual
conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from
reading the following description, in reference to the appended
figures, which illustrate:
FIG. 1, a diagrammatic illustration of a home automation
installation implementing the invention;
FIG. 2, an illustration of a first screen of a programming
interface of the installation of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3, an illustration of a second screen of the programming
interface of the installation of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4, an illustration of a third screen of the programming
interface of the installation of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5, an illustration of a fourth screen of the programming
interface of the installation of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6, an illustration of a fifth screen of the programming
interface of the installation of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7, an illustration of a screen of an alternative of the
programming interface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a home automation installation
1 comprising sensors 2. The sensors 2 may be of quite varied types:
for example, a sun, temperature, wind, or rain sensor, as well as a
motion detector of an alarm, a detector for the opening of a door
or window, a smoke detector, etc. Each sensor 2 measures a physical
property and sends a receiver information that may be of a more or
less complex nature: binary information to indicate that a
threshold has been exceeded, or a numerical value providing a
precise indication of the state of the sensitive element.
In all cases, the sensors 2 can communicate with a control unit 3
and are wired or wireless. This communication 6 may be one-way,
i.e., the sensor 2 sends information but is not capable of
receiving information, or two-way, i.e., the sensor 2 can send
information and can also receive information (for example in the
form of an acknowledgement for information just sent). The control
unit to that end incorporates communication means that include at
least one receiver for receiving information from the sensors, and
if applicable transmission means.
The control unit 3 has computation means, at least one memory, and
wired and/or wireless means.
The control unit 3 is in communication with the pieces of
controlled home automation equipment 5 by means of a communication
7, which may be wired or wireless, one-way or two-way. To that end,
the control unit 3 includes transmission means including at least
one transmitter and, if applicable, a receiver if the communication
is two-way. In practice, if the communication is two-way with at
least some of the sensors and at least some of the pieces of
controlled home automation equipment, the receiver used to receive
the signals from the sensors can also be used to receive the
information from the pieces of controlled home automation
equipment, whereas the transmitter used to send messages, in
particular orders, to the pieces of controlled home automation
equipment may also serge to send messages to the sensors. The
control unit may also be connected to a remote network using the
Internet.
A programming interface 4 is connected with the control unit 3.
This programming interface 4 allows the user to parameterize or
program the home automation installation 1, and to enter the
information necessary for the proper operation thereof. Likewise,
using this interface 4, the user may obtain feedback on the state
of the home automation installation. Generally, this interface 4
comprises a graphic display 11 displaying the information on the
state of the home automation installation 1, and an input interface
12 by which the user can enter information. Preferably, this
graphic display 11 and this input interface 12 are a single and
same object in the form of a touchscreen display.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit 3 and the
programming interface 4 are assembled in a same housing to form a
control module 9. This embodiment offers the advantage of being
compact.
Alternatively, the control unit 3 and the programming interface 4
are remote and communicate with each other by a communication
channel 13 that may be wired or wireless. This solution is chosen
when it is possible to arrange the control unit 3 in a discreet
location of the building (for example, in the garage) and place the
programming interface 4 as close as possible to the living space to
facilitate manipulation thereof. This is for example the case when
the programming interface 4 is made up of onboard software on a
touchscreen tablet or a mobile telephone, for example.
The pieces of controlled home automation equipment 5 are also of
quite varied types. This may for example be motors for setting sun
protection devices in motion such as roller shutters or blinds,
garage door or gate motors, lamps, an alarm, communication means
making it possible to send messages to emergency services or just
to the user, etc.
The sensors 2 communicate toward the control unit 3, which
centralizes all of the information. In some cases, the sensors 2
may also communicate directly with a piece of controlled home
automation equipment 5. These are in particular security functions,
for example such as initiating a smoke sensor that will communicate
with the control unit 3, but also through a communication channel 8
(wired or wireless) with a siren to alert the user as quickly as
possible and eliminate any breakdown that may occur at the central
unit 3. The same may be true for an outdoor blind motor and its
associated wind sensor in case of excessive wind.
Preferably, the control unit 3 has a central position in the home
automation installation 1 and has more significant computation and
memory means than the sensors 2 or the pieces of controlled home
automation equipment 5. The latter may thus be very simple, i.e.,
measuring means for the sensors or motor means for the pieces of
controlled home automation equipment, as well as communication
means for sending information or receiving orders, without any
additional computation or memory means. The cost of these sensors 2
or pieces of home automation equipment 5 is therefore reduced.
Such an architecture also offers the advantage of being compatible
with old sensors 2 or pieces of home automation equipment 5,
inasmuch as they can communicate with the control unit 3. The
constant evolution of the home automation installation 1 is
therefore possible.
Likewise, the invention facilitates communication with sensors 2 or
pieces of controlled home automation equipment 5 communicating
using different protocols that may be included in the home
automation installation 1, and associated with other sensors 2 or
pieces of controlled home automation equipment 5 that were
incompatible until then. In fact, inasmuch as the communications go
through the control unit 3, the latter need only be provided with
these protocols so that it can act as a bridge between the various
protocols.
The home automation installation 1 operates as follows: the sensors
2 measure the value of a physical parameter (light level,
temperature, etc.) and send the information to the control unit 3.
The information is sent as either a numerical value or binary
information, for example specifying whether a threshold has been
crossed. The control unit 3 receives the information and determines
which orders to send the pieces of controlled home automation
equipment 5 as a function of the received value and the present
moment. The orders correspond to control scenarios that were
predefined by the user during a so-called programming or
parameterization procedure, upon starting up the home automation
installation 1 or during modifications during use. These control
scenarios include at least one instruction for at least one piece
of controlled home automation equipment. Preferably, a control
scenario corresponds to a set of orders intended for several pieces
of controlled home automation equipment that are coherent and make
it possible to optimize at least one management perimeter of the
building. For example, in order to optimize the energy consumption
of the building in winter, it may be interesting to lower all of
the sun protection means as the light disappears, whereas they were
open to store as much solar energy as possible through the
windows.
The control unit 3 is connected to a programming interface 4
provided with an input interface 12 and graphic display means 11.
Preferably, this programming interfaces is an LCD or other monitor,
having a touchscreen such that the user presses and slides his
finger over the graphic objects placed on the monitor to enter the
commands or information he wishes.
To parameterize the association of value levels of the sensors with
control scenarios, the preferred interface of the invention
operates as follows.
On the first screen shown in FIG. 2, the programming interface is
divided into four areas: a first area A1 in which the families of
sensors available in the home automation installation 1 are shown,
a second area B1 where the available sensors belonging to a family
of sensors are listed and named, a third area C1 making it possible
to select a program (here among three programs each designated by a
number in FIG. 2, and which we will designate P1, P2, P3 in the
continuation of the description), and a fourth area D1 in which,
for each available sensor 2 program, the three possible states
appear (off, on, and programming mode). Each of the illustrated
elements can be selected by the user. In the first area A1, the
user selects the family of sensors 2 he wishes to program. In the
second area B1, the user can select a particular sensor 2 in the
selected sensor family.
In the area D1, the user can choose the operating mode of the
selected sensor 2. The "ON" mode indicates that the sensor is
operating in a default mode, according to a default program that
cannot be modified, which may or may not call on the control unit.
In this default mode, it is possible to provide that the sensor
communicates directly with one or more pieces of controlled home
automation equipment. The "OFF" operating mode indicates that the
sensor is not on. The "Prog" operating mode is a programmable mode
that will now be explained in detail.
If, for a given program P1, P2, P3 preselected in area C1, the user
selects the programming mode for a sensor 2, a second screen
appears, illustrated in FIG. 3. This second screen is divided into
two areas: an area A2 in which the user can select time ranges of
the day and an area B2 in which the user can choose days of the
week. In the area A2, the user has the possibility of dividing the
24 hours of a day into as many periodic time ranges as he wishes.
For example, he may decide to divide his day into three periodic
time ranges, a night range from midnight to 7 AM, the second from 7
AM to 6 PM, and the third from 6 PM to midnight. At the interface,
it is only necessary to specify the periodic time ranges during
which the sensor will be active. In this example, this will simply
be the period from 7 AM to 6 PM. By default, the remaining periodic
time ranges are those during which it is inhibited. This division
may for example correspond to a day of the week where he works
outside the home, the two extreme periodic time ranges
corresponding to his periods of presence in his residence, the
intermediate periodic time range being a period of absence. In the
area B2, he can choose the days of the week for which that division
is applicable. In the previous example, this division corresponds
to the work days of the week or, in this case, Monday through
Friday. These days will therefore be selected. The other two will
not. According to one alternative not shown, it is also possible to
consider potentially choosing other periodic time ranges, for
example week and/or month numbers of the year.
This second screen makes it possible to choose the periodic time
ranges during which the sensor 2 will be active, or during which
the information it sends will be inhibited.
In the previous example, the user could choose for the sensor
information to be taken into account only in the intermediate
periodic time range, since he is away from home and allows the
automation to manage optimization of the energy consumption in the
building while taking the information from a light sensor 2 into
account.
A validation area allows the user to return to the first
screen.
If, still for a given program preselected in area C1, the user this
time selects the sensor 2 that itself is in area B1, a third screen
appears, shown in FIG. 4.
This third screen is divided into two areas: an area A3 where the
various available control scenarios for that sensor are shown, and
a second area B3 in which a possible value scale for the data sent
by the sensor is shown. In the illustrated example, three control
scenarios are accessible to the user in the area A3 and a fourth
can be created. These control scenarios have been created
beforehand using the programming interface 4, and were then sent to
the control unit 3, which stores them. In one preferred embodiment
of the invention, the programming interface simply stores the name
and the fact that the control scenario is available. As a result,
the memory size occupied by the data corresponding to the control
scenarios is smaller.
In the control scenario creation mode, a fourth screen is
available, reproduced in FIG. 5. The screen is divided into two
main parts: an area A4 where the icons for the various pieces of
controlled home automation equipment 5 available in the building
and controlled by the control unit 3 appear, and an area B4
grouping together the icons for the pieces of controlled home
automation equipment 5 actually involved in a control scenario. A
new piece of equipment is selected for which a control scenario
must be applied using the "slide" function of the touchscreen
display to transfer the icon for the piece of equipment 5 from area
A4 to a free slot of area B4. When a piece of controlled home
automation equipment 5 has been placed in that area B4, a fifth
window, reproduced in FIG. 6, is displayed with an illustration of
the piece of controlled home automation equipment and the
possibility of adjusting its state. In the example illustrated in
FIG. 6, the piece of controlled home automation equipment is a
roller shutter motor and the associated roller shutter. For the
control scenario being created, it is decided to place it in
intermediate position, for example 50% of its normal opening. When
the control scenario is carried out, this roller shutter will be
positioned in the requested position, i.e., 50%. This operation
will be reproduced for each piece of controlled home automation
equipment affected by the control scenario, irrespective of its
type (motor, light, alarm, telephone, etc.). When the control
scenario is complete, i.e., each concerned piece of controlled home
automation equipment is programmed, the user validates the save and
is returned to the previous screen. During this operation, the
control means may use the programming interface to request a name
to store that control scenario in memory. The control scenario may
also be named automatically.
Returning to the third screen of FIG. 4, the area B3 has several
pieces of information: at the center of a scale providing the
possible values provided by the sensor 2, on the left part at least
one value threshold is displayed, and on the right part the name of
the control scenario selected for each scale part is displayed. In
the programming phase, the user varies the level of the threshold
values. In the present example, the "slide" function of the
touchscreen is used, i.e., the user positions his finger on the
parameter to be modified and slides it on the screen to reach the
desired value. Once the thresholds are set, they divide the scale
into the same number of parts as the number of thresholds plus one.
Each scale part can be shown by a different color.
Furthermore, the current value returned by the sensor 2 is
displayed on the scale (in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, this
value is 72%).
Each part of the defined scale has a corresponding area in which
the user can associate a particular control scenario. In this
example, the user also uses the "slide" function by selecting one
of the control scenarios placed in the area A3 and positioning it
in the area corresponding to the scale part one wishes to associate
with that control scenario.
If one wishes to modify the control scenario associated with a
scale part, the same principle can be used to drag that control
scenario into the trashcan appearing on another part of the screen,
for example at the bottom, and to restart the operation with a new
control scenario, or, still more simply, to slide the new selected
scenario directly onto the previous control scenario.
Once the adjustments are done, a validation key allows the user to
return to the first screen.
These operations make it possible to parameterize the home
automation installation 1 to operate automatically according to the
user's desires. For example, the operating mode chosen by the user
corresponds to table 1 reproduced below.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Sensor
0 h- 7 h- 18 h- 0 h- 7 h- 18 h- 0 h- 7 h- 18 h- 0 h- 7 h- 18 h- 0
h- 7 h- 18 h- 0 h- 9 h- 0 h- 9 h- Sunshine 7 h 18 h 14 h 7 h 18 h
24 h 7 h 18 h 24 h 7 h 18 h 24 h 7 h 18 h 24 h 9 h 24 h 9 h 24 h
Prog. No. P1 P2 0%-30% IN Sc1 IN IN Sc1 IN IN Sc1 IN IN Sc1 IN IN
Sc1 IN IN Sc1 IN Sc1 31%-60% IN Sc2 IN IN Sc2 IN IN Sc2 IN IN Sc2
IN IN Sc2 IN IN O IN O 61%-100% IN Sc3 IN IN Sc3 IN IN Sc3 IN IN
Sc3 IN IN Sc3 IN IN Sc4 IN Sc4
In this example, the user has chosen to divide his day into three
periodic time ranges as in the aforementioned example. The
concerned sensor 2 is a light sensor whereof the information will
be inhibited (IN) during the two extreme periodic time ranges (0
h-7 h and 18 h-24 h), and used in the intermediate periodic time
range, i.e., 7 h-18 h, for the days Monday through Friday. The
values of the sensor 2 are standardized in this example to express
them as a percentage and for example create two thresholds that
generate three value ranges. For the same sensor, it will be
possible to define other hourly periodic time ranges for the
non-selected days. In that event, another program is selected (for
example P2) to redefine hourly periodic time ranges. In the example
of table 1, the days Saturday and Sunday are divided into two
periodic time ranges with different hours.
If one examines the operation of the home automation installation 1
relative to this table, one can see that the user has chosen to
apply three different control scenarios (Sc1, Sc2, Sc3) for the
three value ranges of the sensor. If we consider that this is in
the winter, this could make it possible to keep a roller shutter
closed when the light is low (0%-30%) and the building cannot
benefit from solar energy contributions, to open them only on the
south side of the building when the light is intermediate, and to
open them completely when the light is maximal and the heat
contributions may be significant.
The automation will work in this way every day Monday through
Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the user considers that he will be
present in the residence. He has for example divided his day into
two hourly time ranges: one from 0 h to 9 h where the sensor is
inhibited, the other from 9 h to 24 h where he anticipates being
active in his residence. In this example, the user provides a
fourth control scenario when the light is maximal, for example to
lower his blinds midway and thereby avoid being bothered by
excessive light. Likewise, he reuses the first control scenario to
close all of his roller shutters if the light drops below low
values corresponding to the end of the day.
This is only one example of programming, and many other
combinations are possible with different types of sensors, for
example temperature sensors, motion detectors, gas sensors (CO2),
smoke detectors, etc.
The actions may also be quite varied, for example such as acting on
pieces of controlled home automation equipment relative to sun
protection, as well as the operation of a siren, the sending of a
telephone message or an electronic message, etc.
The user may define control scenarios for each sensor, and the
control unit 3 will be able to manage the priorities either
parameterized by the supplier of the technology, or because the
user himself has parameterized his desired priorities. For example,
the safety sensors 2 such as smoke detectors will take priority
over all other sensors. Likewise, alarm sensor detecting an
intrusion will take priority over a sun sensor to close all of the
roller shutters when the contrary order has been generated by the
control scenarios related to said second sensor.
Likewise, it is not necessary to use sensors 2 that send a
numerical value. The sensors 2 that send a binary value for example
corresponding to crossing a predefined threshold may be integrated
into the home automation installation 1 without it being possible
to adjust the threshold and with only two predefined states.
When the information from a sensor 2 must be inhibited, two methods
may be implemented: either the control unit 3 does not take that
information into account in its management of the home automation
installation, or the control unit 3 sends an order to the sensor 2
at the beginning of the periodic time range so that it goes on
standby for a given period or until a wake-up order arrives.
Another example of programs that may exist is the definition of a
program associated with a sensor for the behavior of the home
automation installation at dawn (raising roller shutters, heating
the bathroom, starting the coffee maker, etc.), and another for
dusk (closing the roller shutters, heating bedrooms, starting
lights in the living area, etc.).
Naturally, various alternatives are possible. According to one
alternative of the third screen illustrated in FIG. 7, at least
some of the control scenarios are not allocated to value ranges of
the signal from a sensor, but rather directly to thresholds and
especially to directions in which those thresholds are exceeded,
characterizing changes in the state of the signal from the sensor
and, in fine, the physical parameter monitored by the sensor. In
fact, part of the scale may be vast and the behavior of the home
automation installation does not necessarily need to be identical
when, returning to the previous example, the light goes from 29% to
31% or when it goes from 61% to 59%. The user can thus allocate two
control scenarios to a scale part that will be carried out
according to the threshold that has been crossed. The graphic
representation of this operating mode is slightly different
inasmuch as the control scenarios are associated with the
thresholds and an arrow signifies the direction in which the
threshold must be crossed for the control scenario to be
implemented.
To return to the example illustrated in table 1, the user using the
principle of crossing thresholds illustrated in FIG. 7 will perform
the same type of linking, which will be to keep the roller shutters
closed when the light is low (0%-30%), to open them only on the
southern side when the light increases and enters the intermediate
range, to open them completely when the light increases further and
becomes maximal, and to leave them in the same state when the light
decreases and returns to the intermediate level. In this case, the
control scenario may simply be empty, which means not changing the
state of the pieces of controlled home automation equipment 5 when
it is called upon.
It can be provided that the programming interface 4 and the control
unit 3 are dedicated to only one of the value range (FIG. 4) or
threshold crossing (FIG. 7) programming modes. It is also possible
to provide that a same control unit 3 and a same programming
interface 4 can allow parameterization of the control scenarios
according to both of the programming modes. It is for example
possible to provide that the user sliding, in FIG. 4, the line
connecting the control scenario to the value range of the sensor
from its position illustrated in the center of a value range to a
threshold value of the range in question, causes an automatic
passage to the screen of FIG. 7.
* * * * *